Tests and exams are a big part of school and learning. In English, there are special words to talk about types of tests, test parts, and studying. This page covers the most useful words to help you talk about anything from quizzes to final exams.
Types of Tests
There are lots of different kinds of tests and exams. Here are the main ones you’ll see in school or college.
Common Test Types
- Quiz: A short test on a small amount of material.
- Midterm: A test in the middle of a course.
- Final: The big test at the end of a course.
- Pop quiz: A surprise test with no warning.
- Standardized test: A test given the same way to many students (like the SAT).
- Oral exam: A test where you speak instead of write.
- Practical exam: A test where you do a task or experiment.
- Multiple-choice test: A test with questions that have several possible answers.
- Essay exam: A test where you write longer answers.
- Placement test: A test to see what level you should start at.
| Type of Test | English Example | Spanish Example |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz | There’s a quiz on chapter 3 tomorrow. | Hay un quiz sobre el capítulo 3 mañana. |
| Midterm | The midterm exam is next week. | El examen parcial es la próxima semana. |
| Final | I’m studying for my final exam. | Estoy estudiando para mi examen final. |
| Pop quiz | The teacher gave a pop quiz today. | La profesora puso un quiz sorpresa hoy. |
| Standardized test | Students took the standardized test in the gym. | Los estudiantes hicieron el examen estandarizado en el gimnasio. |
| Oral exam | We have an oral exam in Spanish class. | Tenemos un examen oral en la clase de español. |
| Practical exam | The practical exam is on the science experiment. | El examen práctico es sobre el experimento de ciencias. |
| Multiple-choice test | The test is mostly multiple-choice questions. | El examen es principalmente de preguntas tipo opción múltiple. |
| Essay exam | The essay exam asks about historical events. | El examen de ensayo pregunta sobre eventos históricos. |
| Placement test | I took a placement test to join the advanced class. | Hice un examen de ubicación para entrar a la clase avanzada. |
Parts of a Test
Tests have common parts you should know, whether it’s a quiz or a big exam.
Test Sections and Question Types
- Instructions: Rules for the test.
- Multiple-choice: Choose one answer from several.
- True/false: Decide if a statement is true or false.
- Fill in the blank: Write the missing word.
- Short answer: Write a brief response.
- Essay: Write a longer, detailed answer.
- Matching: Pair items from two lists.
- Listening section: Listen and answer questions.
- Reading comprehension: Read a passage and answer questions.
- Time limit: How long you have to finish the test.
| Part of Test | English Example | Spanish Example |
|---|---|---|
| Instructions | Read the instructions carefully before starting. | Lee las instrucciones con cuidado antes de empezar. |
| Multiple-choice | The multiple-choice section has 20 questions. | La parte de opción múltiple tiene 20 preguntas. |
| True/false | Mark true or false for each statement. | Marca verdadero o falso en cada afirmación. |
| Fill in the blank | Fill in the blank with the correct word. | Completa el espacio en blanco con la palabra correcta. |
| Short answer | Write a short answer in the space provided. | Escribe una respuesta corta en el espacio indicado. |
| Essay | The essay question is on page 3. | La pregunta de ensayo está en la página 3. |
| Matching | Match the words with their definitions. | Une las palabras con sus definiciones. |
| Listening section | Listen to the dialogue and answer the questions. | Escucha el diálogo y responde las preguntas. |
| Reading comprehension | Read the passage and answer the questions. | Lee el texto y responde las preguntas. |
| Time limit | The time limit for the test is 90 minutes. | El tiempo para el examen es de 90 minutos. |
Studying and Preparation
Here’s useful vocabulary for talking about how you get ready for tests and exams.
Common Study Words
- Review: Go over the material again.
- Study guide: A summary to help you prepare.
- Notes: Your written class information.
- Flashcards: Cards with questions on one side and answers on the other.
- Practice test: A test you do to prepare.
- Memorize: Learn by heart.
- Highlight: Mark important parts in a text.
- Group study: Studying with friends.
- Quiz yourself: Test yourself on the material.
- Relax: Take a break and rest.
| Study Word | English Example | Spanish Example |
|---|---|---|
| Review | I need to review my notes before the exam. | Necesito repasar mis apuntes antes del examen. |
| Study guide | The teacher gave us a study guide. | La profesora nos dio una guía de estudio. |
| Notes | My notes are organized by date. | Mis apuntes están organizados por fecha. |
| Flashcards | I use flashcards to memorize vocabulary. | Uso tarjetas para memorizar vocabulario. |
| Practice test | The book has practice tests at the end of each chapter. | El libro tiene exámenes de práctica al final de cada capítulo. |
| Memorize | I have to memorize the irregular verbs. | Tengo que memorizar los verbos irregulares. |
| Highlight | I highlight important information in my textbook. | Resalto información importante en mi libro. |
| Group study | We do group study sessions on weekends. | Hacemos sesiones de estudio en grupo los fines de semana. |
| Quiz yourself | I quiz myself with flashcards every night. | Me hago preguntas con tarjetas cada noche. |
| Relax | It’s important to relax before an exam. | Es importante relajarse antes de un examen. |
Test Day Vocabulary
These words will help you describe what happens on the day of the test.
Common Test Day Words
- Arrival time: When you get to the test location.
- ID: Identification you may need to show.
- Seat number: Your assigned place in the room.
- Calculator: A tool you may be allowed to use.
- Answer sheet: The paper where you write your answers.
- Pencil/pen: What you use to write.
- Time warning: Alerts when time is almost up.
- Submit: Turn in your test.
- Extra time: More time given for some students.
- Break: A short rest during a long exam.
| Test Day Word | English Example | Spanish Example |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival time | My arrival time for the exam is 8:30 a.m. | Mi hora de llegada para el examen es a las 8:30 a.m. |
| ID | Don’t forget to bring your student ID. | No olvides traer tu identificación estudiantil. |
| Seat number | Find your seat number on the sign. | Busca tu número de asiento en el cartel. |
| Calculator | You can use a calculator on the math test. | Puedes usar calculadora en el examen de matemáticas. |
| Answer sheet | Fill in the answers on the sheet provided. | Completa las respuestas en la hoja que te dieron. |
| Pencil/pen | Use a pencil for the test, not a pen. | Usa lápiz para el examen, no bolígrafo. |
| Time warning | The teacher gave a 10-minute time warning. | La profesora avisó cuando faltaban 10 minutos. |
| Submit | Submit your test before leaving the room. | Entrega tu examen antes de salir del aula. |
| Extra time | Some students get extra time for the test. | Algunos estudiantes tienen tiempo extra para el examen. |
| Break | We had a 10-minute break halfway through. | Tuvimos un descanso de 10 minutos a la mitad. |
Where do you find the number of the seat assigned to you for the test?
Seat number
"Seat number" is the specific spot where you must sit during the exam.
Which writing tools are commonly allowed for filling out tests?
Pencil/pen
Pencils and pens are standard tools for writing answers on exams; other tools are usually not allowed.
Talking About Results
After the test, you might want to talk about how you did or what the results mean.
Result Words
- Grade: Your score or mark.
- Pass: To get a score high enough to succeed.
- Fail: Not achieving the required score.
- Percentage: The score as a percent.
- Score: The number of points you get.
- Result: The outcome of the test.
- Retake: Take the test again.
- Curve: Adjusting scores based on group performance.
- Feedback: Comments from the teacher.
- Certificate: Official proof of passing.
| Result Word | English Example | Spanish Example |
|---|---|---|
| Grade | I got a good grade on the exam. | Saqué buena nota en el examen. |
| Pass | I passed the math test! | ¡Aprobé el examen de matemáticas! |
| Fail | I failed the quiz, so I need to study more. | Reprobé el quiz, así que necesito estudiar más. |
| Percentage | I scored 85 percent on the final. | Saqué 85 por ciento en el final. |
| Score | My score was 90 out of 100. | Mi puntuación fue 90 de 100. |
| Result | The results will be posted tomorrow. | Los resultados se publicarán mañana. |
| Retake | I have to retake the exam next week. | Tengo que repetir el examen la próxima semana. |
| Curve | The teacher applied a curve to the grades. | La profesora aplicó una curva a las notas. |
| Feedback | The teacher gave helpful feedback on my essay. | La profesora dio comentarios útiles sobre mi ensayo. |
| Certificate | I received a certificate for passing the course. | Recibí un certificado por aprobar el curso. |
This vocabulary list will help you talk about tests and exams in English, from preparation to results. Good luck on your studies!
What is a ‘curve’ in grading?
Adjusting scores based on group performance
A "curve" adjusts students' grades to account for how the whole group performed, often raising scores.
What do we call the teacher’s comments on your test or essay?
Feedback
"Feedback" consists of helpful comments meant to guide your improvement for future work.
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- Type of Test: Quiz
- English Example: There’s a quiz on chapter 3 tomorrow.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
